Several articles in the Times earlier this year dealt with the different badges and chrome Vs on the differently- shaped trunk lids of the various 1948 and 1949 Cadillac models. The articles also mentioned that the Series 60 Special trunk lid, on the other hand, is bare except for a script molding spelling out the word “FLEETWOOD”. (See photo below.)

I didn’t give this factoid a further thought until a chapter member recently called me. He told me that to replace the missing script molding on his 60S he bought another that was delivered in two pieces, with the letter “F” being separate from the subsequent letters forming “LEETWOOD”. His question was whether I knew anything about this; specifically, whether the molding being in two pieces was normal or was his purchase unfortunately damaged? Not having the slightest idea, I consulted my 1935-55 Cadillac Master Parts List, which indeed shows the Fleetwood molding to be indeed in two pieces: part number 413 3544 is the letter “F” (cost $1.14 in ’55) and part number 413 3455 is the letters “leetwood” (cost $2.88 in ’55). The same molding is used on 1942 through 1949 60 Specials. We surmised that the reason for this unusual set-up has something to do with the side-to-side curvature of the 60S trunk lid.

newsletter